Belt shifter and the like



May 15, 192s.

H. B. 'rRoTT BELT SHIFTER AND THE LIKE Filed Feb.25 1927 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNIT-Eo `sravla-.15.

mieres 3. met, F muteren, mansnvhmf zama: kslr-Irren AND LIKE.

Application led February 25, 1927. 'Serial No. 170,854.

Thi-s invention relates to safety operating mechanisms-for Vloelt shifters and the like and has for its object the provision of 1nech sanism vof this class vwhich `Will alternately sfhift `an object rin `opposite directions, and which will `automatically lock the "object -against faccidenta'linovement when said ob- Tject "is not 'being fshifted.

Anotherzobjectiis to nprovide a mechanism lo of the class described, having the'novel construction, design, `and :combination of zparts 'hereinafter .described ,and illustrated in *the l accompanying drawings.

`Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly lin section, of a belt shifter embodying Imy invention. y

Figure 2 lis :a `vertical sectional elevation tail/ren `at lright angles to Figure l.

Figure 3 `is 'a .plan .View of the yoperat- `ing mechanism lof Figure `1,one yhalf being `im section.

Referring more particularly 'to the drawrings,tl1"e Inm'neral d'0 designates `the housf dmgiof :the device which `is provided at its upper ends With a pair of ybracket arms imwhich a shaft l1'6 is secured. A belt shiftf ing fork 15 is slidably mounted on the shaft 116 Vand is .adapted `tto be shifted ilongitudina'lfly of the shaft lto shit'the 'belt A, shown in Figure 2.

A substantiztlly :inverted T-'shaped rocker member B `is ipivtally mounted on :a fixed :pivot pin 9 in the housing l0 and has the Liiee 'end :of its stern portion bifurcated, as at 9*, to receive a ipin slsecur'ed in the Vbelt shifting fork i5, thereby iorming a `combined lpi-vorta'l Ia-nd lsliding connection fbetween the belt shifting fork 15 and the rocker member 8.

The transverse or 4head pontion ofesafid T- `shapedrocker member has its "ends bifurcated, 'as fat 9", to receive pivot studs or Spina f6 yand 7 adjacent the lupper ends of link members 4 'and 5, respectively, Whiehlink members are substantially T-shap'ed in `croiseLsedtio'n andere sflid'ably mounted in ,gfuidieuaysm in 'the housing i() 'for vert-L "call movement.

The link members 4 and f5 :are cut awayto form clearance recesses `which terminate 'at their tower lends in square shouldersQQ, and at their upper iin #inclined shoulders 23 for purposes to fbe described. y y

A itbfu'l'ar .boss t24 is formed on the lower ,end otl the housing l() and a plunger 2 is slidably mounted lin the boss 24 for vertical reciprocatory movement.

AV shoulder flange 25 formed adjacent the loWer end of fthe plunger V2 fhaving `a 4greater diameter than the vbore of the boss 24 sov as to limit the upward movement oi' .the plunger, and uneye V26is -formed on the llower end `ot' 'the plunger to which an operating cord l or -the like Vis secured for .pulling the plunger downwardly.

The plunger 2 is provided with a head rmember 'composed oi a horizontal base 2 and a vertical tback plate 2b, and :a coiled spring 12 is mounted 'around `the-shank of the ,plunger 2 -and has 'its Vlower end engaged Vagain'stythe boss '24 and its upper end engaged against the Aunder side of lthe base plate 2u of 'the plunger headfwherebysaid spring Will normallyv urge :the Aplunger upwardly into retracted posit'ionand 'will automatically retractsaid .plunger .nter it is extended by Ipullingon the cord l.

The upper endoit' 'theback `plate 2b'o't the :plunger head Vis provided'W-ith a lug or tooth 27 adapted =to be engaged in recesses 28 in `the "hub of the rocker member 8 to lock the i rocker member 'against movement While the plunger is in retracted position. The` recesses 28 are spaced varound the fhub of the 'rocker S rso raste be inline with the lug '27 vWhen `the rocker fmem'ber is in either extreme position.

A trigger member is pivotallymounted -onf a headcd stud z'151 secured in vthe back In operation, assuming that fthe "a'pgmra-` tus is `in `the [position fshovn 1in "the "drawings and it is desired to shift the be'l't` shitting lug 27 Vfrom tfhevnotc'h l28 'and "fifeel the 'rocker 8 and also moving ythe trigger rdoW-il until its arm '3b-"engages fthe Square shoulder 22 on the flink 4, when thenlink l vivill 'be compelled fto move downward with the trigger and plunger, thus pulling on the transverse portion Vof vthe rocker 8 and causing it to rock about :the `,pivot pin 9 and ft-'hereby shift the belt; shifting fork 15 along the shaft or bar 16. then the trigger arm 3" engages the square shoulder 22 the trigger member will be rocked or rotated about the pivot pin 11 until the arm 3C engages the bottom or base plate i2 of the plunger head, which movement will move the arm 3 out.

oi' the line ot travel ot the Square shoulder 2; on the link 5 which link is moved upwardly as the link t moves down.

tter the operator has pulled on .the eord l .so as to extend the plunger :2 its entire length. or substantially its entire length, he will release the cord and the spring l? will automatieally return or retract the plunger :l and anse the lug 27 to enter the other recess or noteh QS so as to loek the rocker S against movement. During the retraeting or return movement ot' the plunger :2, the trigger arm il" will he moved up against the inrlined shoulder 23 ot the link -itso :rs to roel.' the trigger 3 about the. pivot pin ll sutlieient'ly to more tl arm 3 into the line ot travel ot' the square shi'iiulder Q2 on the link 5. Now. it it is desired to return the belt shitting fork 15 to the position shown in the drawings. the operator will again pull on the cord 1 and extend the plunger :l so as to release the rocker 8 and Cause the trigger arm le to engage the square shoulder 22 on the link and pull down the link as deserilied t'or the link l.

'While l have deseribed and shown the above novel n'ieehanism as being positioned vertically. it will be understood that I do not wiflh to he limited to mechanim so positioned since the mechanism ot this invention will operate {equall}y as well when positioned horizontally or at an'v desired angle. It will also be understood that. while I have shown the novel operating mechanism ot this invention as used t'or operating or shitting a belt shitting fork. I do not wish to be limited to such use sinee such mechanism may he used tor shitting or operatingT 'arious other elements where a shitting or throwing movement is desired.

I Claim- 1. An operating mechanism Comprising a housing. a substantially inverted T-shaped roeker meniber pivotaltv mounted on a fixed pivot in said housing. a pair ot links pivot allv .secured to the opposite ends of the transverse portion of said roeker member and slidablv mounted in `said housing. inwardly extending shoulders adjarent the lower end of eaeh ot .said links. a plunger mounted tor reeiproeatory movement in said housing, a trigger head pivotallv mounted on the inner end of said plunger and having trigger arms extending outwardly from each side thereof. means t'or limiting the pivotal movement. ot said trigger head relative to said plunger. means tor reciprocating said plunger, one ot said trigger arms being adapted to engage the shoulder on one ot said links upon one reeiprocatory movement ot said plunger so as to pull said link and rock .said rocker member in one direction, and the other trigger arm being adapted to engage the shoulder on the other ot" said linka` upon the alternate reriproeatory movements` of said plunger so as to pull said link and roek .said roeker member in the other direction. and means tor lorking said rot-ker member against movement when said plunger is at rest.

An operating mechanism comprising a housing, a suliistantially inverted T-shaped rocker member pivotally mounted on a` fixed pivot in said housing, a pair ot' links pivot# alljyv secured to the opposite ends ot the transverse portion of said rocker member and islidahlv mounted in said housing, inwardl)v extending shoulders adjaeeut. the. lower end ot' eaeh ot said links, a plunger mounted tor reeiproeatory movement, in .said housing, a trigger head pivotally mounted on the inner end of said plunger and havingr trigger arms extending outwardlyfrom earh side thereot, means l'or limiting the pivotal movement ot said trigger head relative to .said plumg'er.A means t'or reeirnorating said plunger, said trigger arms being adapted to altermitelyv engage the should/.frs on the respertive ones ot' said links upon alternate reeiproeations o'l said plunger so as to alten natel;v pull said respective links and thereb).1 alternately rock said rocker member in op posite directions.

The Combination with a shittahle mene ber7 ot means for shitting said memliier in opposite directions, said means comprisingr a housing, a substantiall)v inverted Tshapdd rorker member pivotallv mounted on a tixed pivot in said housing and having its stem portion eonneeted to said shittahle member by a combined pivotal and sliding eonneetion. a pair ot links pivotallv and slidahljf.' eonnerted to the opposite ends ot' the transvers-'e portion ot said rocker member and slid ablv mounted in said housing. inwardly extending shoulders adjaeent, the lower end of eaeh ot said links. a plunger mounted l'or reeiproeatorv movement in said housing. a trigger head pivotallv mounted on the inner end of said plunger and having trigger arm.: extendingr outwardly from eat-h s-ide thereof. means tor limiting the pivotal movement of said trigger head relative. to .said plunger. means for extending said plunger.` a. spring for retraeting `said plunger. said trig ger armsl being adapted to alternately engage. the shoulders on the respective ones of said links upon alternate extensions ot said plunger so as to alternately pull said respective links and thereby alternately rock said rocker member in opposite direetions so as to shift: said shiftable member in opposite directions.

lli

4. The combination with a shiftable mem# ber, ot' means for shifting said member in opposite directions, said means comprising a housing, a substantially inverted T-shaped rocker member pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot in said housing and` having its stem portion connected to said shiftable member by a combined pivotal and sliding connection, a pair of links pivotally and slidably connected to the opposite ends of the transverse portion of said rocker member and slidably mounted in said housing, inwardly extending shoulders adjacent the lower end oi' each of said links, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement in said housing, a trigger head pivotally mounted on the inner end or" said plunger and having trigger arns extending outwardly from each side thereof, means for limiting the pivotal movem-ent of said trigger head relative to said plunger, means for extending said plunger, a-spring for retracting said plunger, sai-d trigger arms being' adapted to alternately engage the shoulders on the respective ones of said links upon alternate extensions of said plunger so as to alternately7 pull said respective links and thereby alternatelyY rock said roker member in opposite directions so as to shift said shiftable member in opposite directions, and means for locking said rocker member against movement when said plunger is retracted.

5. A mechanical belt shifter comprising a housing, a shaft mounted in said housing, a belt shifting member slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be shifted longitudinally of said shaft, a substantially inverted Tshaped rocker member pivotally mounted on afixed pivot in said housing and raving its stem portion connected to said belt shifting member by a combined pivotal and sliding connection, a pair of links pivotally and slidably connected to the opposite ends of the transverse portion of sai-d rocker member and slidably mounted .in said housing, inwardly extending shoulders adjacent the lower end ol'each of said links, a plunger mounted for reciprocatory movement in said housing, a trigger head pivotally mounte-d on the inner end of said plunger and having trigger arms extending outwardly from each side thereof, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said trigger h-eadrela-tive to said plunger, means for extending said plunger, a spring for retracting said plunger, said trigger arms being adapted to alternately engage the shoulders on th-e respective ones of said links upon alternate extensions of said plunger so as to alternately pull said respective links and thereby alternately rock said rocker member in opposite directions so as to shift said belt shifting member in opposite directions, and means for locking said rocker member against movement when said plunger is retracted.

HARVEY B. TROTT. 

